Formula Challenge Japan
Encyclopedia
Formula Challenge Japan is an open wheel racing series based in Japan. The first season was in 2006 and carried on from the defunct Formula Dream
series. It is promoted as a young driver development project jointly by Honda
, Toyota and Nissan and is positioned as an intermediate level of the domestic motorsport in Japan, lower than the All-Japan Formula Three Championship
, but above F4.
To participate in the FCJ series, a driver needs to be younger than 26 years old and possess a National A racing license, but not having raced in Formula Three
or above to participate, with a year's subscription fee of around 7.5 million yen. Despite being a series primarily catering the upcoming Japanese drivers, as of 2009 there were foreign drivers competing in the series.
The cars are open wheeler
s, running on a Tatuus chassis
and is mated to a 2.0 L 200 hp engine and a six-speed sequential gearbox, similar to a Formula Renault
2.0 car. The engine is a Renault F4R unit badged as FCJ and maintained by Nismo. The tires are manufactured by Dunlop. To ensure parity of the cars, the engine and gearbox are both sealed prior to being delivered to the competitors so that no private tuning could be carried out in between. Moreover, the cars are centrally maintained by the organizers for this purpose.
As of 2009 the series is run on the same weekends as the Formula Nippon race weekend, and visits the major circuits in Japan like Fuji Speedway
, Suzuka Circuit
, Twin Ring Motegi
and Sportsland Sugo
.
Formula Dream
Formula Dream was an open wheel racing series based in Japan. The series became Formula Challenge Japan in 2006.-Champions:...
series. It is promoted as a young driver development project jointly by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, Toyota and Nissan and is positioned as an intermediate level of the domestic motorsport in Japan, lower than the All-Japan Formula Three Championship
All-Japan Formula Three Championship
, also known as Japanese Formula Three, is a national motor racing championship that takes place in Japan. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis....
, but above F4.
Overview
Being backed by the three major automobile manufacturers in Japan, the driver of the series generally consists of the drivers graduating from the racing schools managed by those three, plus a number of privateers meeting the prerequisites.To participate in the FCJ series, a driver needs to be younger than 26 years old and possess a National A racing license, but not having raced in Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
or above to participate, with a year's subscription fee of around 7.5 million yen. Despite being a series primarily catering the upcoming Japanese drivers, as of 2009 there were foreign drivers competing in the series.
The cars are open wheeler
Open wheel car
Open-wheel car, formula car, or often single-seater car in British English, describes cars with the wheels outside the car's main body and, in most cases, one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or fenders...
s, running on a Tatuus chassis
and is mated to a 2.0 L 200 hp engine and a six-speed sequential gearbox, similar to a Formula Renault
Formula Renault
Formula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or...
2.0 car. The engine is a Renault F4R unit badged as FCJ and maintained by Nismo. The tires are manufactured by Dunlop. To ensure parity of the cars, the engine and gearbox are both sealed prior to being delivered to the competitors so that no private tuning could be carried out in between. Moreover, the cars are centrally maintained by the organizers for this purpose.
As of 2009 the series is run on the same weekends as the Formula Nippon race weekend, and visits the major circuits in Japan like Fuji Speedway
Fuji Speedway
is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing...
, Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
, Twin Ring Motegi
Twin Ring Motegi
is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Japan. Its name comes from the facility having two race tracks: a oval and a road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda, as part of Honda's effort to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel...
and Sportsland Sugo
Sportsland SUGO
is a motorsports facility located in the town of Murata, Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It opened in 1975 and is one of the largest motorsports facilities in Japan, with a total area of 2.1 million m²...
.
Scoring system
- Points are awarded for the top 10 race finishers with a bonus point for pole position and the fastest race lap.
Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Pole Fastest Lap Points 10 7 6 3 2 1 1 1
Champions
| Season | Champion |
|---|---|
| 2006 |  Yuhi SekiguchiYuhi Sekiguchi -Formula Renault:Sekiguchi competed in two races of the 2004 Asian Formula Renault Challenge for the Asia Racing Team, scoring no points.-Formula Toyota:... |
| 2007 | Keisuke Kunimoto Keisuke Kunimoto , birth name: Lee Gyeong-Woo , is a Japanese/Zainichi Korean race car driver who races with Japanese racing license.... |
| 2008 | Yuji Kunimoto Yuji Kunimoto is a Japanese auto racing driver. He is the younger brother of 2008 Macau Grand Prix winner Keisuke Kunimoto. As of 2011, he is racing for Cerumo in Formula Nippon and for apr in Super GT.-Career highlights:... |
| 2009 | Kazuki Miura |
| 2010 | Yuichi Nakayama |